The “Fun ‘Til You’re Done” Farm is by far one of the most popular areas of the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Country Fest.
Last year it won a provincial award, for Agricultural Education Exhibits from the B.C. Association of Agricultural Fairs and Exhibitions.
The award was presented to Country Fest by the minister of agriculture.
The farm building is situated in the centre grounds behind the Main Stage.
Once you cross the threshold you will enter a world of baby farm animals from the largest to the smallest, young and old.
The display will chickens, including day-old chicks, as well as ducklings, turkeys, a miniature horse and foal, lambs, a pygmy goat, cows, baby pigs, llamas, donkeys, and hens.
Each animal will be accompanied by an educational display.
The farm animals are in large, secured pens, where they can come to be petted when and if they feel secure.
Hundreds of local 4-H members will be chomping at the bit to get to the first agricultural fair in the Fraser Valley, where they compete for the blue ribbon of 2011.
This year they will be showing their beef, dairy, llama, swine, sheep, goats, rabbits, poultry, dogs, small engines, food, photography, craft and educational display projects with pride and enthusiasm.
The 4-H Cloverbuds, who are the up-and-coming members, will be showing their educational poster, scrapbook and Clover BUDDIES Recycled Item from an agricultural product.
In addition to watching the animals play in their pens, fair visitors will be able to watch sheep being sheared and having their feet trimmed by Johanna Walker, watch wool being spun hands-on and fleece washing, watch Kim Tuka, our farrier, trim and shoe horses feet, and Bill McCallion demonstrate the skills of sheep dogs with his ducks.
Also, see the B.C. cattle penners step inside the Dairy Classroom – an interactive and educational overview of the dairy cow, the milking process and the importance of quality milk, or and watch 120 chickens and ducks at the poultry show, or come see the miniature donkey show.
There is also a new feature at Country Fest, called Backyard Farming, which has numerous displays and workshops to show people how simple it can be to raise food for their family in their own backyard.
Figure skating showcase
The Maple Ridge Skating Club and Canada Ice Dance Theatre have teamed up to create two showcases of B.C. talent at the Country Fest this weekend.
The Canada Ice Dance Theatre, founded in 1976, will present Storytelling on Ice, exploring the grace, beauty, personal expression and artistic nature of movement on ice.
A non-profit charity mandated to encourage and promote skating as an art form, the theatre group has performed for audiences of all ages throughout British Columbia.
Choreographed and directed by Ron Vincent, Canada Ice Dance Theatre now invites you to experience two of famous Canadian author Robert Munsch’s classics, Millicent and the Wind and A Promise is a Promise.
The Maple Ridge Skating Club will also showcase its members with a variety of performances, from learn to skate programs to higher level competitive skaters:
Saturday
• 12-12:25 p.m. – Maple Ridge Skating Club demo;
• 1:30 -2 p.m. – Canadian Ice Dance Theatre Show;
• 3–3:25 p.m. – Maple Ridge Skating Club demo;
• 4:30-5 p.m. – Canadian Ice Dance Theatre Show;
• 6-6:20 p.m. –Maple Ridge Skating Club demo.
Sunday
• 12:30-12:55 p.m. – Maple Ridge Skating Club demo;
• 1:30-2 p.m. – Canadian Ice Dance Theatre Show;
• 3-3:25 – Maple Ridge Skating demo;
• 4:30 – 5:00pm – Canadian Ice Dance Theatre Show.
It’s all about the kids
Kids will have a ball at Country Fest.
Besides the Fun Til You’re Done Farm, the weekend event will feature a Kids Stage.
Performing on it will be Major Conrad Flapps and Will Stroet, who is well known around the Lower Mainland for singing about children’s realities using humorous characters and catchy guitar-driven songs that keep children excited throughout the show.
Because of the strong French immersion program in B.C., Stroet has also added a French component into his show.
Also for kids this year, Country Fest will feature All Star Wrestling, skating shows, mini golf, Remax balloon rides, fly ball dogs, dairy classroom, B.C. Hydro interactive games and more.
There’s also a special photo studio, called “When I Grow Up,” where kids can dress up in the outfit of their dream job and have their photo taken.
Some of these activities have a small fee, but most of them are free.
Those charging a fee include Jungle Jac’s bouncy castles, Bells and Whistles Mini Golf, and West Coast Amusements.
• Check out all the entertainment and attractions at mrpmcountryfest.com.